Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine and the Stanford Ludwig Cancer Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.

Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine and the Stanford Ludwig Cancer Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.

Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine and the Stanford Ludwig Cancer Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.Departments of Pathology and Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.

Brain tumors, meet macrophages

A protein called CD47 is often expressed on the surface of tumor cells, where it serves as a “don’t eat me” signal that blocks macrophages from attacking the tumor. To overcome this signal and allow the macrophages to “eat” tumor cells, Gholamin et al. engineered a humanized antibody that blocks CD47 signaling. The researchers tested the efficacy of this antibody in patient-derived xenograft models of a variety of pediatric brain tumors. The treatment was successful at inhibiting CD47, killing tumor cells, and prolonging the animals’ survival, all without toxic effects on normal tissues.